Housing in Shetland

[shetlandpeat]

You could look here for prices and some availablity

 

http://www.shetlink.com/classifieds/

[gafynandrew]

Maybe this has already been mentioned but what about the north star? isn't/wasn't that going to be converted into flats?

I've not seen any work going on there....

[vandivoo/raggy doll]

How, may I ask, is the chronic shortage of affordable social housing an exclusively Shetland problem?

 

It affects the whole of Britain.

[JustMe]

How, may I ask, is the chronic shortage of affordable social housing an exclusively Shetland problem?

 

It affects the whole of Britain.

Of course this is not a problem limited to Shetland but there are some reasons why Shetland's need is discussed here. First of course because the debate is in the Shetlink forum under the general topic of Shetland News and also because Shetland in common with other island communities is so remote that people cannot commute to and from another area.

 

As for the whole of Britain I think it would be more accurate to say "much of Britain" as there are some areas with social housing lying empty in part because the housing is in areas with little work, in part because the housing is in areas where people do not want to live as it is, or is perceived to be, a slum area (Firth included?) and partly because the whole social housing system does not encourage free movement of tenants.

[vandivoo/raggy doll]

How, may I ask, is the chronic shortage of affordable social housing an exclusively Shetland problem?

 

It affects the whole of Britain.

Of course this is not a problem limited to Shetland but there are some reasons why Shetland's need is discussed here. First of course because the debate is in the Shetlink forum under the general topic of Shetland News and also because Shetland in common with other island communities is so remote that people cannot commute to and from another area.

 

As for the whole of Britain I think it would be more accurate to say "much of Britain" as there are some areas with social housing lying empty in part because the housing is in areas with little work, in part because the housing is in areas where people do not want to live as it is, or is perceived to be, a slum area (Firth included?) and partly because the whole social housing system does not encourage free movement of tenants.

 

Still seems quite parochial when you consider that the problem can only ultimately be solved by central government on a national level rather through the actions of a local authority such as the SIC. Folk who complain about the housing department's system of allocation can't see the wood for the trees, IMHO.

 

Also, as you correctly pointed out, the shortage is most acute in more affluent areas of the country rather than deprived places.

Take my [homeless]situation, for example. Currently in Aberdeen you wont get a council house unless you fall into the category of "priority"(e.g. single mothers, drug addicts, disabled persons etc etc). As I don't meet the criteria to be considered a priority there isn't really a cat in hell's chance of me ever getting a council house(and in fact was told off the record, in no uncertain terms, by an Aberdeen City Council housing officer that this was the case). This means that I have no other alternative to rent privately. However, as I work in a minimum wage job I'm unable to possibly afford a deposit for a private flat. This leaves me in the rather unenviable situation of having to stay in B&Bs 2 or 3 days per week and sleeping rough the rest of the week.

 

I can't see any way out of this desperate situation for the time being

[JustMe]

vandivoo/raggy doll wrote

This means that I have no other alternative to rent privately. However, as I work in a minimum wage job I'm unable to possibly afford a deposit for a private flat. This leaves me in the rather unenviable situation of having to stay in B&Bs 2 or 3 days per week and sleeping rough the rest of the week.

Have you tried the options that might be available such as hotel work with a room thrown in or finding someone to share a flat with?. Of course you should not have to do such things nor do the American alternative of working two or more jobs just to get somewhere to live. Yes the whole system of housing needs fixing.

[paulb]

thats awful. there mustbe a solution. does aberdeen council not have a duty to help rough sleepers.

hope your situation is sorted sleeping rough there in winter would not be nice.

[Longdog]

Yeh the system is not working, as in your case, the issue is how to fix it. Hope you do get sorted, I got close to living rough as a student in London but ended up on a boat, of sorts, as the only cheap way to live in London. Turned out great actually.

 

@JustMe; Firth is not a slum nor anything remotely like one. If you think so you've never been to a slum area. Some of us actaully enjoy living here

 

Kev

[JohanofNess]

@JustMe; Firth is not a slum nor anything remotely like one. If you think so you've never been to a slum area. Some of us actaully enjoy living here

 

Kev

 

Think you maybe being a little unfair there, I don't think justme was calling firth a slum just that some people call it and perceive it to be one.

[Guest Anonymous]

@JustMe; Firth is not a slum

 

absolutely kev , ive stayed in firth off n on since 1999, and from experience i find it much quieter, civilised and friendly as voe or brae, if its a case of social deviants look towards toytown

[JustMe]

No, I do not believe that Firth is a slum but a lot of otherwise nice and normal people certainly did at one point believe that it was to the extent of refusing perfectly good housing there (and in Mossbank) even though they were in urgent need of housing. So I mentioned Firth in the "perceived to be" category.

[Longdog]

Think you maybe being a little unfair there, I don't think justme was calling firth a slum just that some people call it and perceive it to be one.

 

Well you maybe right, but naming it is still continuing the bad image of Firth that is not justified now. It may have been right a long time back . Hence feeling the need to pick up on it.

 

Kev

 

Edit..

Seems I missed your next post JustMe. I see what you're saying, just don't like the to see myth being continued.

 

As you said people have refused to move/relocate here because of it.

[vandivoo/raggy doll]

vandivoo/raggy doll wrote

This means that I have no other alternative to rent privately. However, as I work in a minimum wage job I'm unable to possibly afford a deposit for a private flat. This leaves me in the rather unenviable situation of having to stay in B&Bs 2 or 3 days per week and sleeping rough the rest of the week.

Have you tried the options that might be available such as hotel work with a room thrown in or finding someone to share a flat with?. Of course you should not have to do such things nor do the American alternative of working two or more jobs just to get somewhere to live. Yes the whole system of housing needs fixing.

 

A bit chicken and egg. Sort of difficult looking for another job when I've got no fixed address.

 

Anyway, back to macro. Ending the right to buy might, at best, prevent the problem from getting any worse. However, it isn't a solution. The only solution is to build lots more council houses.

[JustMe]

Of course the housing problem especially for single people is a result of a well intentioned bit of government legislation that put an end to landlords renting out grotty bedsits with shared facilities at prices people could afford. Certainly at one time in my life I was happy enough renting a cheap room but although I would not want to go back to those days I do think today's young people are missing out on the chance to have somewhere to call home.

[vandivoo/raggy doll]

thats awful. there mustbe a solution. does aberdeen council not have a duty to help rough sleepers.

hope your situation is sorted sleeping rough there in winter would not be nice.

 

ACC put you up in a B&B for six weeks After that time, if you still haven't found a place, you get turfed out on the streets.

 

It's impossible to save up a deposit and months rent in that six weeks as ACC charge you half your pay for the privilege of staying there.